Exclusive: PNE day-by-day attendance revealed

The Pacific National Exhibition’s 2013 Fair — its 103rd to date — was not marred by weather, but instead power outages at Hastings Park on the middle Saturday and the last Thursday. In fact, those were two of the worst days for attendance at the Aug. 17-Sept. 2 Fair, according to statistics that are published below for the first time.

What you already knew: The grand total over 15 days was 712,049, a decrease from the 763,689 a year earlier (when the fair was 17 days long) and far short of the 800,000 goal set by organizers. (By comparison, the centennial fair in 2010 drew 937,485.) PNE vice-president of finance Roger Gil told me gate revenue has not been reconciled, but will be reported to the board of directors for its next meeting. (PNE board meetings are held behind closed doors, despite it being a public body.)

What you didn’t know: A power outage delayed the opening of gates on Aug. 24 so the attendance for the middle Saturday of the Fair — traditionally one of the biggest days — was a disappointing 48,874. Another power outage happened in the evening on Aug. 29. The day’s weather was mixed — partly cloudy, sometimes rainy — but only 26,363 came through the turnstiles. That was the worst-attended day of the entire Fair. Organizers were hoping for more because Aug. 29 was the day Vancity credit union debit and credit cardholders were admitted for $5 each.

The best-attended day was the third day — Tues. Aug. 20 — with 76,902 fairgoers. Why was that? Well, Port Metro Vancouver sponsored free admission to all comers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There was also a free two-hour promotion on Aug. 27, to make-good for the Aug. 24 power outage. That Tuesday’s total was 64,580.

Tickets and parking at the 2013 Fair were both cut from $20 to $16 each and kids under 13 were free. The touring Chinggis Khan exhibition, the only brand, new marquee attraction at the Fair, was an extra $3. There was no price break at the gates during the middle weekend of the civic fair, which was in competition with the free admission, civic-sponsored 125th anniversary of Stanley Park. The PNE drew 48,874 on Aug. 24 and 53,048 on Aug. 25. It is not known how much the free festival at Stanley Park impacted the PNE’s revenues, but it certainly was not a business-wise move by the Vision Vancouver-dominated city council. The true anniversary of Stanley Park could have been observed on Sept. 27, the date it was opened in 1888.

The PNE fairgrounds were closed on Aug. 19 and 26 to cut costs.

Next year’s fair runs Aug. 16-Sept. 1, 2014.

Day

Date

Attendance

Saturday

August 17, 2013

29,976

Sunday

August 18, 2013

31,129

Monday

August 19, 2013

0

Tuesday

August 20, 2013

76,902

Wednesday

August 21, 2013

36,039

Thursday

August 22, 2013

36,594

Friday

August 23, 2013

45,547

Saturday

August 24, 2013

48,874

Sunday

August 25, 2013

53,048

Monday

August 26, 2013

0

Tuesday

August 27, 2013

64,580

Wednesday

August 28, 2013

33,499

Thursday

August 29, 2013

26,363

Friday

August 30, 2013

41,126

Saturday

August 31, 2013

66,222

Sunday

September 1, 2013

67,588

Monday

September 2, 2013

54,562

TOTAL

712,049

What do you love or hate about Vancouver’s annual PNE Fair? Did you go to the 2013 Fair? Leave your comments below or email me here.